Limestone stela of Pasebakhaenniut
(Psusennes)

From Abydos, Egypt21st
Dynasty, about 1069-945 BC

A priest worshipping the triad of
Abydos

The carving of this
stela
is particularly fine. It shows the triad of Abydos, consisting of
Osiris,
Isis
and
Horus,
their son, between them. The stela seems to have been set up in a
tomb chapel of Pasebakhaenniut who, despite his Theban origin,
seems to have been buried at Abydos;
shabti-figures
of his were also found
here.

Pasebakhaenniut
(Psusennes is the Greek form of his name) was a priest and military
person who seems to have been responsible for the area between
Abydos and Koptos. He was the son of Menkheperre, a high priest of
Amun.
During the Twenty-first Dynasty the high priests of Amun were in
effective control in Thebes, though in practice they remained loyal
to the kings at Tanis in the north. Menkheperre was one of three
priests who even had their names placed in cartouches, a device
normally restricted to royalty. This stela was probably put in
Abydos by Menkheperre to ensure the family's control over
this part of Upper Egypt.